Judge Daniel B. Douglass

A Video Tribute to Judge Douglass is now available on this site.Judge Daniel B. Douglass, 85 of Vienna, passed away October 23, 2014.He was born in Parkersburg on July 3, 1929, the son of the late Ernest C. Douglass and Amy B. Douglass.Dan graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1946. He attended West Virginia University and earned his B.A. Degree in 1950 and his Doctor of Juris prudence iin 1953 from West Virginia University Law School . Dan practiced law in Parkersburg from 1953 until 1986 when he was elected as a Circuit Court Judge for Wood and Wirt Counties and served in that capacity until he retired in 1994.All three of Dan's children became lawyers and practiced law with him at various times. At the time he passed, he was Of Council with his eldest son Ernest in the firm Douglass & Douglass, for the past 16 years.Dan was a 50 year member and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg and was a 50 year member Masonic Lodge #172 in Vienna, andwas still very active in the Vienna Lions Club. Dan was past secretary of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee under the previousfive Chairman before becoming Chairman from 1972 to 1984. Dan received the 2009 William Pa. Nicely Award for Lifetime Achievement in public service.He also received Judge of the year from the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and from the Young Lawyers Section of the WVSB.Dan enjoyed old cars and pond fishing and reading andwas an avid WVU football fan. He liked recalling the five different cars he owned during his high school days and the trips to Canada and Florida with his friends. Dan liked to recall past cases, trials, interesting clients and residents in and around the Parkersburg area. He loved dressing up as Santa for several local churches and other holiday social functions, as well as his own family Christmas parties. Dan went to theWood County Courthouse every Thursday and most Tuesdays to sit in on hearings in Circuit Court Judge J.D. Beane's courtroom.“He was a kind person who liked helping people. He strove to be fair toward every person who came before him,”Judge Beane said. Judge Beane enjoyed talking with Douglass between hearings.“I had a chance to sit and listen to him tell stories about his life. It was amazing; he would tell the same story years later and the details were always exactly the same.” Judge Beane recalled.Dan was in Judge Beane's courtroom on Thursday afternoon before the wreck that ended his life. “It just won't be the same without him sitting there anymore.” Judge Beane said. Dan is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann O'Brien Douglass; one daughter, Ellen Douglass Dalton (Paul) of Annandale, Va; two sons, Ernest M Douglass (Amanda) and Daniel B. Douglass II (Jeanne A.) both of Parkersburg; grandchildren, Maghee M. Douglass, Jubal L. Douglass, Kezia J. Douglass, D'Risen S. Douglass and Elizabeth J. Dalton; great-grandchildren, Miguel M. Douglass, Stacey D. Douglass, Charity C. Douglass and Piper Rose Bauer.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Lorna Anderson and Reverend Donald Anderson.Funeral services for Dan will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2014 at The First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg with Reverend Michael R. Seelyofficiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg with Masonic Rites by Vienna Lodge #172 A.F.& A.M. Visitation for Dan will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, Sunday at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, 3005 Grand Central Ave., Vienna, W.Va. and one hour before the service at the church on Monday.Memorial contributions may be made to the Vienna Lion's Club.